Nut lock



*July 30,1929. G. fies saw: 1,722,541

NUT LOCK Filed Nov. 26, 1927 GeOJyeA OSSGZiZ IN VEN TOR.v

A TTORNEYS.

Patented July 30, 1929.

UNETED STATES.

uann PATENT orrics.

enonen nossn'r'rnor cnIcAeo, mam.

,' F 'NUTLOCK.

Application filed November 26, 1927. Serial No. 235,892.

This invention relates to devices for locking a nut on the shank of a bolt, and more particularly to such devices as apply to.a longitudinally-grooved bolt,'and it is my main object to provide a device of this kind which is --.eiiicient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel nut lock which inter-poses but asingle working part betweenthe nutand the bolt.

Another object of the invention is to make a novel nut lock of a compact structure and having noiexternal parts which are apt to jar loose or get out of order. I

A final, but nevertheless important object of the invention is to construct the novel nut lock on'lines of exceeding simplicity, inior der that it may be manufactured at a minimum of expense and handled with ease.

fd/Vith the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the. accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of anut and bolt assembly on the line of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on'tlie' line22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view;

Fig. .etis a section on the line 14= of Figure 2; Y

Fig. 5 is a view similar-to Figure 4:, showing a modification; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, on a smaller scale, of a tool which may be applied to unlock the-nut. Y WVhile many devicesfor the locking of a nuton a bolt have beendevised in past years, few have been found to approach a suitable degree of efiiciency, most being con1- plicated, delicate, or-too costly. In attaining the objects above contemplated, I have had in view to remove the deficiencies prevalent indevices of the prior art, and produce an appliance which may be considered reliable and practical. r V v Referring specificallyto-the drawing, 10 denotes the shank, and 11 the head of typical bolt; and :12 represents a nut suitable therefor. Oil-general lines, I do not materially alter the nut or bolt, so that it need not be saidthat the same will be weakened or radically. changed for my purpose.@As in the case of nut locks of. a similar nature, I groovetlre threaded shank lfiotqthe bolt tendencies on'the part oft-he nut.

longitudinally, as indicated at 13, this being the only change in the bolt.

As to the nut, I' leave the larger portion thereof in normal-form, but-cut down into the outer end. thereof with a relatively shah low circular recess-14, the same being made about the site ofthe bolt. Thefloor of the recess is plain, but the Walls thereof are cut with a ratchet, formation in relief, so as to present a circular series of stepped undercut notches15. VV-ithin the recessis laid a ci: cular leaf-spring 16, the same, having a tendency to expand against the ratchet formation of the wall. One end of theispring is plain, while theother is doubled, as indi catedat; 17,. given afairly sharp inward bend and formed'with a, terminal" spur 18. The double portion ofzthe spring is adapted to seat inthe groove. 1210f the bolt, and the expansive tendency-of the spring will cause the spur 18 to seatin one of thejundercut notches 15 of the walla. The notches are cut in a direction to slip'on the spur when the nut is threaded onto the bolt :shank, but to lock against the same. if an attempt is made to unthread thenut. tlcwill thus be seen, that the doubled portion 17 of the spring being" anchored 'to' the bolt, any unthreading or reversing :effort expended upon the nut will becheckedrl Also, the intimate or joint formation of the doubled-portion with the spur, lends the latter sufiicient strength and a firm backing to withstand unthreading In practice, this featureconstitutes a lock for the nut, so that vibration or rough handling of the parts secured by the bolt andthe nut will not induce the loosening or unthrcading ofthenut. i

In assemblies oflarger-size than may be considered ordinary, it is-wellnotto depend upon the. spring'for both theexpansive action-andthe function of thespur. Thus, the modification in Figure 5 shows the spur represented by a dog19,,with which the bolt-anchoring element is-integral. The

spring is fitted to the .dog in a manner to bear outwardly upon the same and assure its seating in the ratchet notches as the nut is turned. 1 w

Some nut locks of the prior are require parts to be destroyed-or disabled in order that the nut may be loosened or unthreaded at Willa but my invention allows for a simple metho of securing this result witliout damage to any part, enabling the aaeintlyio watch case lid, since it'is not-intended'ordi-a narily that the ring be removed. The ring fills the space between the bolt shank andthe outer face of: the nut,--providing a neat and compact facing for the nut.- Also, the

ring forms a closure for the recess 14', so

that dirt or foreign matter may not enter readily, or tampering, done; also, the closure formed by the ring prevents the dislodgment or possible loss of the spring 16:

' For the unlocking process, I perforate the ring at diametrically opposite points, as indicated at 24;, to permit the insertion ofa pair of studs on the prongs of a; forked tool 26, which I'ha-ve shown on a reduced scale in Fi ure 6. The perforations 24 are in the inneredge of theringQQ, so that when the tool 26'is applied: the" prongs 25 will descend well inside of the position occupied by the spring. 1 6: The tool may now be used to turn the ring to a point where the studs 2 5 -will assunie the position indicated by dotted-lines in Figure 2;- It will be seen that the left-hands'tud 2 5' is now behind the bend in the doubl'edportion 17 of the spring. As the tool! 26 is now turned wherebyto turn the ring 22 further in the directionof the arrows in Figure 4 the left-hand stud 25'wil l impinge upon the bend in the spring whereby to advance the doubled portion-'17 further into the-groove 13' of the bolt,thereby retracting thespur 18 from the particu' lar notch 15 in which it isseated As the spur 18now' clears the nut, a regular wrench may be applied to the same while the tool 26 is held still to unthread the-nut from the bolt shank The tool may be used with the same efl ect on the modified structure of Fi ured. I

It will be seen that 12 have provided a structure of a minimum of parts to secure the objects contemplated by ni'y'inv'ention. The small groove cut in the bolt and the relatively shallow recess of the nut wilt not weaken these: parts in any manner; vet

'these'alteratiohs furnish means for the disposal of the spring 16-and' itslocking extension 18. The spring may be designed to have sufficient tension 'to maintain the nut in locked position against hard usage orexcessive vibrationof the parts, and I am firmly of the opinion that once my nut and bolt assembly have been lockediir the manner described they maybedepended upon to stay locked for an indefinite period- As to the tool 2'6, I have shown the same as a quick and handy'means for unlocking the nut, but it may be readily seen that in case such; atool is not handily found when waaited,-any -nail'- or pin of-suitable size may be applied in the manner of the active stud .25t0 conr-ress thelocked portion of the springsu cientl'y to clear the notched wall otthe nut. In the case of the tool, while Also, the provision of two studsandper forations expedites the finding of the work ing' area by one or the other ofwt'he studs asthe ring 22 is turned.

--In' conclusion, it wilt be seen that'I. have provided a product of simplicity and ap parent efliciency. However; I do not-wish to limit myself tozthe exact structure-shown but rather desire to include: all such changes or refinements asmay improve the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined hr the appended claims.- V 1 f f Iclaim: l. The combination witha longitudinallygrooved: bolt shank; ofi a nut lock-comprising a nut witlr an interrupted annular surface, a tension membewbetween-the bolt shank and said surface; and aspu rcarried by the tension memberfto' en gage said surface, the spur having animmediate heel'extension 'an'chorcd in-the groove of thebolt shank;

2; The combination-with" a longitudinallygroovcd bolt shank; of a nut lock comprising a nut with an end-cavity containing an interrupted annular surface, a tension member anchored in the groove of the belt, a spur directed by thetension member toengage said surface, said spur having aheel Jorbolt shank, and a plate to close said end cavity, said plate being perforated fcr' the insertion of a tool to retract the spurfrom said surface and further extend the heel of tio'n partly extended into the groove 0 the the spur into thegroove of the bolt shaml'c.

3. The combination with a longitudinallygrooved bolt shank; of a nut lock comprising a' nut with an: interrupted annular surface about the bolt shank, and a spring curved about the latter and expansive inthe direction of said surface, one end portion of the springhaving a spur'in engagementwith said surface and a heel seating in the groove of the bolt shank;

4. The combination with a longitudinallygrooved bolt shank of a nut lock comprising a nutwithan annular surface with a ratchet formation about the bolt shank, and

a spring curved vabout the latter and expansive in thedirectionofsaid surface, said spring having one end bearing against said surface and the other first bent inwardly to become anchored in the groove of the bolt said surface and carrying a spur to cooperate with the same in the nature of a pawl, and a closure ring rotatably fitted in the mouth of said cavity, said ring being perforated for the insertion of tools to turn the ring and become wedged between the said surface and the spur, whereby to retract the latter from said surface.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE ROSSETTI. 

